How to...

Determining the Type of Document You Want to Submit

You, as the originator, must determine which of the three types of lessons learned documents you want to submit.

Lesson Learned - Knowledge and experience, positive or negative, derived from actual events shared to promote positive information or prevent recurrence of negative events; benefit from the experiences of others.

Best Practice – A positive example of work processes, procedures, good ideas, or solutions that "work" and are solidly grounded upon actual experience in operations, training, or exercises.

Success Story – An exemplary initiative that has shown notable achievement in its specific environment and that may provide useful information to others.

These categories promote the best methods of communicating accomplishments in security operations or avoiding recurring deficiencies. All three are variations on the same basic idea: experiential information that can inform future decision-making, job planning, and workers and supervisors in the conduct of their work activities.

Selecting the Operating Experience Submittal Form

Once you’ve determined what type of lessons learned document you are submitting, select the Operating Experience Submittal Form (Attachment A) and save it to your desktop. In the first block of the form, select Document Type and choose from the menu the type of document being submitted.

Complete the submittal form to the best of your ability. Remember—this is not a writing contest. The SEC-LLC will vet all submitted documents for formatting, grammar, spelling, etc., before they release the final versions.

It is also important that you complete all the requested fields to provide sufficient detail to allow a reader to understand the problem, how it was identified, and what steps have been or will be taken to correct the problem or prevent recurrence.

The standardized Operating Experience Submittal Form ensures consistency in reporting for purposes of analysis and that the same type of information is being shared and communicated across the DOE and NNSA complex.

You have the option of indicating whether or not you want to maintain anonymity. You can opt to have all descriptive information such as originator name and site name excluded from the published version of your lessons learned. Please be sure to indicate your choice by placing a checkmark in the “Anonymous” box if you want your document to be published without site-specific information. This option provides the participating sites with assurance that the originating site has no criticism or “bad press” directed at it.

Operating Experience Template (doc)

Originator Roles and Responsibilities

• Obtain DC/Reviewing Official Approval. Please provide your lessons learned document to your local classification group or a DC for review before submitting it. The SEC-LLC is only accepting and publishing UNCLASSIFIED documents.


• As the originator of the document, it is your responsibility to ensure that the information detailed in your template is in compliance with local and departmental regulations for the protection of classified and unclassified controlled information.


• Once you’ve completed your document and have had your DC review it, send it to your site POC, who will coordinate the document through the rest of the process. You may be called upon for additional information or clarification along the way but, for now, your job is done!

Site POC Listing

Thank you for your submittal!

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